LONDON

The unfolding situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is "extraordinary" and "extremely dangerous," Türkiye's delegation to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said on Monday, calling for an immediate cease-fire and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yildiz presented Türkiye's oral statements in advisory proceedings on the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and an unhindered flow of aid to Palestinians as the holy month of Ramadan approaches.

"It is alarming to see reports regarding plans by the Israeli government to limit prayers of Muslims at Haram al Sharif during Ramadan," he said during public hearings in The Hague, adding that the "provocative rhetoric" by certain Israeli ministers is also "worrisome."

Expressing Ankara's position regarding the situation in Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, Yildiz said Türkiye is "deeply concerned" with unilateral policies and practices of Israel, which "violates the status quo in Haram al Sharif."

He also noted that the situation unfolding since Oct. 7 "once again proves" that there can be no peace in the region without addressing the root cause of the Gaza conflict.

Regarding the sufferings of Palestinians, Yildiz said the rules-based international system has come to a point of "collapse" because of injustices that have been inflicted on Palestinians for decades.

"We believe that all unilateral acts and measures by Israel aimed at changing the character and status of the occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem, constitute a breach of international law and must be unconditionally resented," he underlined.

'Sanctity of Al Aqsa must be upheld'

Yildiz described the situation in Gaza and the West Bank as "extraordinary" and "extremely dangerous," warning that if left unchecked, it could jeopardize global peace and threaten security.
"Türkiye cannot remain indifferent to Israeli attempts to alter the character and status of occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and we cannot remain indifferent to the ongoing attacks by Israel against the Palestinian people."

Mentioning that observing the sanctity of and the status quo at holy places is one of the main aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he noted that Al Aqsa Mosque compound, or Haram al Sharif, is one of the world's holy sites for Muslims and that its sanctity as a Muslim shrine "must be upheld" at all times.

"Türkiye, respectfully calls upon the International Court of Justice, to declare the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, illegal under international law," added Yildiz.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed over 29,000 people and injured over 69,000 with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.